The upside of the holiday season: your kids get off from school and you get to spend more time with them! The downside?... you have to figure out how to entertain them! The holidays are stressful enough without having to either brainstorm a million ideas for entertainment or surrendering yourself to the screens. Hopefully these ideas will give you a jumpstart, but it will be even more effective to ask your kids what they want to do. If they’re too young to come up with ideas, perhaps you can give them a couple options to choose between. Giving kids a sense of autonomy by inviting them to figure out how they want to spend their time will make them more engaged.

1) Involve them in holiday preparations like cooking and decorating.

Making gifts, decorations, holiday cards, and wrapping paper from scratch
Helping to plan the holiday dinner menu
Baking holiday desserts and decorating cookies

2) Volunteer together. Some examples are…

Serve food at a soup kitchen
Pick out food, toys, and/or coats for a charity drive together
Make holiday cards to drop off at a local senior home or hospital. Alternatively, you can do it through a program like Cardz For Kidz

3) Have an indoor picnic

Just because it’s winter time, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on picnicking! Put together a little snack plate, lay out a blanket, put on your favorite tunes and enjoy your picnic!

4) Paint snow

5) Set up a spa day

Who doesn’t love to be pampered? Make some hot cocoa, slice some cucumbers, and buy a couple face masks to treat your kids to their very own spa.

6) Check out events at your local library or YMCA

7) Go on a nature walk

For bonus points, look up a couple quick facts about local plants and animals to share!

We hope you find these suggestions helpful in keeping the kids entertained through creative activities during holiday breaks. Best of luck keeping them entertained and happy holidays!

The holidays are an exciting time but that excitement brings stress too. Between coordinating logistics, interpersonal drama, and potential financial burdens, not to mention less daylight, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by the fast approaching holiday season. With some forethought and planning though it doesn’t have to drown you. Here are Embrace Sexual Wellness’ best tips for not just surviving but thriving this holiday season so you can enjoy yourself to the fullest extent possible.

Clearly Identify and establish personal boundaries

Boundaries are important year-round but they should most certainly be shored up ahead of a known stressful time. Family and boundaries can be particularly tricky so it might take more discipline to hold your ground. If you’re not sure where to start with determining and communicating your boundaries, check out this ESW article

Expect and accept imperfection

It might sound obvious but it’s still important to intentionally remember that even the best laid plans go awry. In these moments, try reflecting on the true importance and priorities of the holidays: spending time with people you love.

Make an escape plan

Even the closest and calmest families and/or friends can feel overwhelming at times so consider planning how you might be able to get a break during the festivities before they begin. Whether that means going for a walk or a drive, stepping into the washroom, or finding another reprieve, knowing you have a plan to catch your breath can be stress reducing in and of itself.

These tips won’t solve all your problems or prevent stress completely, but they can certainly help ease your burden. We wish you and your loved ones the happiest holiday season!

How to Keep Kids Entertained During Holiday Breaks